Ex vivo lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin-1 secretion from murine peritoneal macrophages inhibited by probucol, a hypocholesterolemic agent with antioxidant properties

Probucol, 4,4'-(isopropylidenedithio)bis(2,6-di-tert-butyl-phenol), has been shown to inhibit atherogenesis in genetically hypercholesterolemic (Watanabe) rabbits. Since atherosclerotic lesions contain macrophages capable of screting interleukin 1 (IL 1) and other cytokines that could contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease, we have investigated whether probucol affects IL 1 secretion. Resident peritoneal macrophages from mice dosed with probucol secreted 40-80% less IL 1 than macrophages from control animals when stimulated in vitro with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The inhibitory effect of probucol was observed when IL 1 was assayed by the standard bioassay, the thymocyte proliferation assay, or a competitive IL 1 receptor binding assay. Probucol treatment had no effect on LPS-induced membrane IL 1 expression; secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF); Con A-induced splenic interleukin 2 (IL 2) and interleukin 3 (IL 3) release; and prostaglandin- or zymosan-induced secretion of prostacyclin, leukotriene C4, acid phosphatase, or superoxide anion. In contrast to the effect of oral administration, direct addition of probucol to macrophage cultures did not inhibit IL 1 release. Probucol administration did, however, inhibit the fall in serum zinc level induced by intravenous injection of LPS in zymosan-primed mice but had no effect on the LPS-induced increase in serum triglyceride levels, which indirectly confirms that probucol administration inhibits IL 1 but not TNF secretion. Paw granuloma induced in mice by heat-killed mycobacteria was inhibited by oral administration of probucol, an effect that may be attributable to inhibition of IL 1 secretion. Probucol neither reduced zymosan-induced liver granulomata in mice nor inhibited adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats. We suggest that inhibition of IL 1 secretion from macrophages by probucol contributes to its therapeutic effects in atherosclerosis and may also result in beneficial activity in some chronic inflammatory diseases.     

Differential expression and regulation of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha and MIP-2 genes by alveolar and peritoneal macrophages in LPS-hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ mice

A point mutation in Toll-like receptor 4 (Tlr4) gene in C3H/HeJ mice underlies a defect in LPS-induced cytokine production by peritoneal macrophages (PMphi;). Whether the C-C and the C-X-C chemokines are induced differently by LPS between alveolar macrophages (AMphi;) and PMphi; in this mice remains unclear. Thus, we examined the expression and regulation of macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) in C3H/HeJ macrophages. These results showed that the accumulation of MIP-1alpha and MIP-2 mRNA increased dose dependently in response to LPS. PMphi; responded to LPS to produce significantly higher levels of both chemokine mRNA and protein than AMphi;. In addition, both macrophages produced much more MIP-2 than MIP-1alpha by the same doses of LPS stimulation. Moreover, the chemokine production by C3H/HeN macrophages was significantly higher than that of the C3H/HeJ macrophages. IFN-gamma suppressed the LPS-induced MIP-1alpha release but enhanced the LPS-induced MIP-2 secretion in both macrophages. These results show that the chemokine production was induced and regulated differentially in AMphi; and PMphi;.     

Correlation between the lipopolysaccharide response of mice and the capacity of mouse peritoneal cells to transfer an antiviral state. Role of endogenous interferon

Freshly harvested mouse peritoneal cells, from normal lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-responsive (Lpsn) mice, were capable of transferring an antiviral state (to vesicular stomatitis virus) to "in vitro aged" mouse macrophages permissive for viral replication. The transfer of the antiviral state was completely abrogated by addition of antibody to interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta in the co-culture medium. In contrast, even large numbers of donor peritoneal cells from LPS-hyporesponsive (Lpsd) C3H/HeJ and C57BL/10ScCR mice did not transfer an antiviral state to target cells. Although peritoneal macrophages from Lpsd mice did not transfer an antiviral state to target cells, they were nevertheless found to be in an antiviral state when first placed in culture. Injection of mice with antibody to mouse IFN-alpha/beta rendered peritoneal macrophages from both Lpsn and Lpsd mice permissive for vesicular stomatitis virus. The decay of this initial antiviral state in peritoneal macrophages during in vitro culture was far more rapid for Lpsd mice than for normal mice. Addition of antibody to mouse IFN-alpha/beta markedly enhanced the in vitro decay of the antiviral state of peritoneal macrophages. Treatment of total peritoneal cells from Lpsn mice with LPS resulted in IFN production, whereas IFN was not detected in the cellfree medium of LPS-treated peritoneal cells from Lpsd C3H/HeJ and C57BL/10ScCR mice. Genetic studies with F1 hybrids between Lpsn and Lpsd mice and with Lpsn and Lpsd recombinant inbred strains revealed a striking correlation between the capacity of peritoneal cells to transfer an antiviral state and their capacity to produce IFN after stimulation with LPS, suggesting that closely linked, if not identical, genes are in some way involved in the transfer of antiviral state as well as in the LPS response by peritoneal cells of normal mice.     

Peritoneal macrophages from patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis show a differential secretion of prostanoids and interleukin-1 beta.

In vitro secretion of the prostanoids PGE2 and PGI2 and of the cytokine IL-1 beta by peritoneal macrophages obtained from CAPD patients during episodes of peritonitis and infection free periods, was determined, after culturing with or without 5 micrograms/ml of LPS. The release of PGE2 and PGI2 as measured by its stable metabolite 6-keto-PGF alpha was determined in 10 episodes of peritonitis and 10 infection free periods. IL-1 beta release was determined in 14 episodes of peritonitis and 20 infection free periods. PGI2 release from macrophages declined sharply during peritonitis both in the absence and presence of LPS in the culture medium (p less than 0.005). A tendency to decreased PGE2 release was found during peritonitis, when macrophages were cultured in the absence of LPS. In the presence of LPS, the same amounts of PGE2 were released during peritonitis and during an infection free period. On the other hand, peritoneal macrophages released significantly more IL-1 beta during peritonitis as compared to an infection free period, provided that the cells were in vitro stimulated with LPS. In view of the interregulatory effects between prostanoids and macrophage cytokines in their production, these findings may indicate that the impaired release of PGI2 during peritonitis has allowed the macrophages to secrete more IL-1 beta after in vitro stimulation with LPS. This implies that PGI2 and PGE2 may play a distinct role in the regulation of cytokine secretion by these cells.     

Induction of nitrite/nitrate synthesis in murine macrophages by BCG infection, lymphokines, or interferon-gamma

Macrophage synthesis of nitrite and nitrate after activation by BCG infection or by treatment in vitro with both T cell-derived (lymphokines (LK) or recombinant murine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma] and bacterial (lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and heat-killed bacillus Calmette-Guerin (hk BCG] agents was studied by using macrophages from C3H/He and C3H/HeJ mice. Spleen and peritoneal macrophages isolated from BCG-infected donors that were producing nitrate continued to synthesize nitrite and nitrate in culture. LPS treatment in vitro (25 or 50 micrograms/ml) additionally increased this nitrite/nitrate synthesis. Thioglycolate-elicited macrophages from non-infected C3H/HeJ mice treated with LK also produced nitrite/nitrate, and concurrent LPS (0.1 to 50 micrograms/ml) treatment resulted in enhanced synthesis. Recombinant IFN-gamma also stimulated nitrite/nitrate synthesis by C3H/He and CeH/HeJ macrophages as did LPS (C3H/He only) and hk BCG. When given concurrently with either LPS or hk BCG, IFN-gamma enhanced C3H/He and C3H/HeJ macrophage nitrite/nitrate synthesis over that produced by macrophages treated with either LPS or hk BCG alone. Macrophages activated in vitro exhibited a 4 to 12 hr lag time before engaging in nitrite/nitrate synthesis, which then proceeded for 36 to 42 hr at linear rates. Daily medium renewal did not alter the synthesis kinetics but increased the total amount of nitrite/nitrate produced. Nitrate and nitrite were stable under the conditions of culture and when added did not influence additional macrophage synthesis. Taken together, these results indicate that T cell lymphokines and IFN-gamma are powerful modulators of macrophage nitrite/nitrate synthesis during BCG infection and in vitro, and nitrite/nitrate synthesis appears to be common property of both primed and fully activated macrophage populations.     

The correlation between specific protein synthesis and tumoricidal function in murine peritoneal macrophages

Macrophages from the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-responsive C3H/HeN mouse strain and the closely related LPS-nonresponsive C3H/HeJ strain were compared for tumoricidal activation and protein synthetic changes following in vivo and in vitro stimulation, utilizing two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of [35S]methionine-labeled proteins. Peritoneal macrophages elicited from C3H/HeN mice with heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes exhibited tumoricidal activity in a 16-hr cytolytic assay and expressed cytoplasmic levels of a 23.5-kDa protein during 48 hr of culture. The inability to detect persistent expression of p23.5 in P. acnes-stimulated C3H/HeJ macrophages correlated with the cytolytic impotence of those cells in the 16-hr chromium release assay. C3H/HeN macrophage populations lacking tumoricidal capacity could be rendered lytic, as could P. acnes-elicited C3H/HeJ macrophages, following in vitro stimulation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide. Concomitant with the LPS-induced expression of new functional activity was the appearance of augmented levels of several macrophage-specific proteins, including p23.5. This effect was dependent upon the lipid A moiety of LPS as the effects of LPS could be blocked by inclusion of polymyxin B sulfate in the culture medium. However, neither tumoricidal function nor protein modulation could be readily induced in C3H/HeJ proteose peptone-elicited or resident macrophages. These results identify biochemical responses to stimuli which may be requisite to acquisition or execution of cytolytic activity.     

The fate of E. coli lipopolysaccharide after the uptake of E. coli by murine macrophages in vitro

The fate of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) after the uptake of Escherichia coli by macrophages in vitro was studied. The LPS of the galactose epimerase-deficient E. coli J5 mutant was specifically radiolabeled with [3H]galactose by growing the organism in a basic salts medium containing galactose. Control bacteria were uniformly radiolabeled by growth in [14C]glucose and unlabeled galactose-containing medium. Surface constituents of E. coli were also labeled with 125I. After in vitro phagocytosis of labeled E. coli by murine peritoneal exudate macrophages, the rate of exocytosis of LPS, as assessed by release of 3H over a 72-hr period, was considerably reduced in comparison with other bacterial constituents (14C and 125I release). The [3H]galactose-labeled material exocytosed from macrophages and that remaining intracellularly (obtained from macrophage lysates) were isolated by cesium chloride (CsCl) density gradients and were shown to have altered density profiles as compared with purified E. coli LPS. The macrophage-"processed" [3H] galactose-containing fractions from CsCl density gradients of culture supernatants or macrophage lysates were capable of clotting Limulus amebocyte lysate. The [3H]galactose material obtained from 48-hr macrophage lysates and culture supernatants could also induce a lethal response in actinomycin D-treated mice. These data suggest that bacterial LPS may be selectively retained by the macrophage and that the post-phagocytic events that result in bacterial degradation are not accompanied by the degradation of LPS. Furthermore, although the LPS may be modified by the macrophage, it retains its biologic activity.     

Differential endotoxin sensitivity of lymphocytes and macrophages from mice with an X-linked defect in B cell maturation.

The in vitro sensitivity of B lymphocytes and macrophages derived from (CBA/N X DBA/2N) F1 male mice, which carry an X-linked recessive gene that produces defective B cell maturation, was compared to phenotypically normal F1 female mice. B lymphocytes of F1 males exhibit an abnormal mitogenic response to LPS in serum-free culture conditions, which is partially reversed in the presence of serum. In contrast, both resident and thioglycollate-induced peritoneal macrophages of F1 male mice respond normally to LPS. In response to LPS in vitro, F1 male macrophages produce the monokine, lymphocyte-activating factor (LAF) and release prostaglandins. Furthermore, F1 male macrophages are sensitive to the lethal effects of LPS. Therefore, the defective CBA/N gene appears to be expressed only in B lymphocytes and not in macrophages. Since F1 male mice are normally sensitive to the lethal and adjuvant effects of LPS in vivo, these findings suggest that a mature B lymphocyte population is not required for these effects and support the role of the macrophage in the mediation of LPS-induced lethality and adjuvanticity.     

LPS and Taxol activate Lyn kinase autophosphorylation in Lps(n), but not in Lpsd), macrophages.

BACKGROUND: The anti-tumor agent, Taxol, has been shown in murine macrophages to stimulate tumor necrosis factor (TNF), modulate TNF receptors, induce a large panel of immediate-early genes, and induce protein tyrosine phosphorylation indistinguishably from LPS. These data, coupled with the finding that lipid A antagonists block Taxol-induced stimulation, support the hypothesis that these two structurally unrelated compounds activate a common, receptor-associated signaling apparatus. A very early event in LPS signaling of human monocytes is activation of lyn kinase activity. We therefore sought to evaluate the activation of lyn kinase by LPS and Taxol in LPS-responsive (Lps(n)) and LPS-hyporesponsive (Lps(d)) macrophages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C3H/OuJ (Lps(n)) and C3H/HeJ (Lps(d)) macrophages were stimulated by LPS or Taxol. Cell lysates were subjected to immunoprecipitation with anti-lyn antibody, gel electrophoresis, and in vitro kinase assays. Autoradiography and Phosphor-Imager analysis were carried out to detect incorporation of 32P into lyn protein. RESULTS: Within seconds of stimulation, LPS and Taxol induce in Lps(n) macrophages a depression of autophosphorylation, followed within minutes by autophosphorylation of both p53 and p56 lyn species. Lps(d) macrophages respond to LPS and Taxol with the initial decrease in activity, but fail to respond to LPS with autophosphorylation, and respond only to a limited extent upon Taxol stimulation. Tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors exerted inhibitory effects on LPS stimulation of lyn autophosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased lyn kinase activity within seconds and autophosphorylation within minutes of LPS or Taxol stimulation in Lps(n) macrophages strongly supports the hypothesis that LPS and Taxol share a common signaling pathway. The finding that C3H/HeJ macrophages respond to LPS and Taxol with a normal depression of lyn activity, but fail to autophosphorylate lyn normally in response to LPS or Taxol, suggests that the Lps(d) defect is distal to LPS-receptor interaction. Finally, the inhibitory effect of tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors on LPS-induced lyn autophosphorylation suggests that tyrosine phosphatase(s) may participate in the regulation of lyn kinase activity.     

Reactive oxygen species facilitate the in vitro and in vivo lipopolysaccharide-induced release of tumor necrosis factor

Secretion of TNF from mouse peritoneal macrophages exposed to LPS in vitro was enhanced in the presence of H2O2 or sodium periodate. Neither of these agents induced release of TNF in the absence of LPS. Both iron chelators and free radical scavengers inhibited this enhanced secretion of TNF, implying the involvement of free radicals via a Fenton-type reaction. Oxidant stress, in the form of alloxan or divicine, also enhanced serum levels of TNF in mice made sensitive to LPS by low-level infection with malaria, and then given i.v. LPS. Pretreatment with the iron chelator, desferal, or the free radical scavenger, BHA, inhibited TNF release in these animals. Less TNF was also detected in mice given desferal before LPS in the absence of exogenous radical generator. These results could have implications for understanding the details of the MLR, the adherence of neutrophils to the walls of pulmonary vessels in free radical-induced lung pathology, and the side effects of bleomycin.     

Refractoriness to migration inhibitory factor of macrophages of LPS nonresponder mouse strains.

The responsiveness to macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) from the LPS unresponsive C3H/HeJ and C57BL/10ScCR mice was assessed by the indirect agarose microdroplet macrophage migration inhibition assay. No migration inhibition with PEC from C3H/HeJ nor C57BL/10ScCR mice was detected, whereas PEC from both C3H/HeN and C57BL/10Sn mice were significantly inhibited by even a 1/32 dilution of MIF-containing supernatants. Responsiveness to MIF of C3H/HeJ PEC could, however, be induced. In vivo inoculations of Mycobacterium bovis, strain BCG, 7 days before in vitro assay rendered C3H/HeJ PEC responsive to MIF. The lack of responsiveness to MIF by C3H/HeJ PEC appeared related to some form of suppression, since a mixture of PEC from C3H/HeN mice with 10 to 15% PEC from C3H/HeJ mice resulted in undetectable migration inhibition at any MIF dilution. In contrast to the usual lack of responsiveness of their macrophage to MIF, C3H/HeJ mice were able to produce MIK in response to PPD as well as their counterpart C3H/HeN mice after BCG sensitization. These results demonstrate that macrophages from C3H/HeJ and C57BL/10ScCR mice are unable to be inhibited in their in vitro migration of MIF (possibly being directly or indirectly influenced by a suppressor cell), whereas lymphoid cells from at least one of these strains, the C3H/HeJ mice, can produce MIF in response to antigenic stimulation.     

Interleukin 1alpha activity of peritoneal and bone marrow macrophages infected with Leishmania major and Leishmania donovani in vitro

In this study, the pattern of interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) production by both peritoneal (PM) and bone marrow macrophages (BMM) from resistant (C3H/HeJ) and susceptible (BALB/c) mice was investigated, using a bioassay and an IL-1alpha-specific ELISA kit. PM from normal uninfected mice showed either an initial high (C3H/HeJ) or a neglected (BALB/c) level of IL-1alpha activity, respectively, probably due to thioglycollate stimulation. Infection with Leishmania major induced only a marginal effect on IL-1 production by both cells. Normal, uninfected and unstimulated BMM from both mice did not produce IL-1alpha over a 7-day period of cultivation in vitro. Upon stimulation with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (BALB/c) or concanavalin A (Con A) (C3H/HeJ), both cell types produced IL-1alpha that peaked within the first 12-24 h following stimulation. BMM from C3H/HeJ and BALB/c mice failed to produce IL-1alpha when infected in vitro with L. major or L. donovani promastigotes. However, infection with these two parasites did not interfere with the capability of the host cell to produce IL-1alpha when stimulated with LPS or Con A. The level of IL-1alpha production was independent of the degree of parasitization of the macrophages. Similar results were observed with IL-1beta and IL-6 production by BMM, even though their levels were generally slightly higher than those obtained with IL-1alpha.     

Some biochemical and functional characteristics of macrophages activated by Tetrahymena pyriformis

Phagocytosis, enzyme activities and capacity to release hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide anion (O2-) of peritoneal macrophages from mice inoculated with Tetrahymena pyriformis, a free-living ciliate, were examined in comparison with resident and BCG-activated macrophages. Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis of sheep erythrocytes was markedly increased in Tetrahymena-activated macrophages to the same level as that seen in BCG-activated ones. Tetrahymena-activated macrophages showed an increased level of acid phosphatase (lysosomal enzyme) and a reduced level of alkaline phosphodiesterase I (plasma membrane ectoenzyme) as compared with resident macrophages. Similar changes in the activities of the two enzymes were also observed in BCG-activated macrophages. Both Tetrahymena- and BCG-activated macrophages exhibited more enhanced capacity to release H2O2 and O2- than resident macrophages when stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate. In the macrophages from mice inoculated with varying doses of Tetrahymena, a significant correlation was observed between the increased capacity of H2O2 and O2- release as observed in the present study, and the enhanced toxoplasmacidal activity as observed in a previous study, in a dose-dependent fashion.     

The exposure of murine macrophages to alpha 2-macroglobulin 'fast' forms results in the rapid secretion of eicosanoids.

The exposure of [3H]arachidonate-radiolabelled murine peritoneal macrophages to alpha 2-macroglobulin-methylamine or alpha 2-macroglobulin-trypsin but not native alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) results in the rapid secretion of [3H]eicosanoids. Resident peritoneal macrophages stimulated with 0.1 microM alpha 2M-methylamine exhibited an enhanced secretion within 10 min. The ability of alpha 2M 'fast' forms to stimulate secretion of [3H]eicosanoids was similar to that observed in the presence of the murine macrophage chemoattractant platelet-activating factor. As observed for total [3H]eicosanoid secretion, alpha 2M 'fast' forms also rapidly enhanced the secretion of the cAMP-elevating prostanoid, prostaglandin E2, from resident peritoneal macrophages. Stimulated secretion of prostaglandin E2 in response to 0.1 microM alpha 2M-methylamine was less rapid than that observed using 0.1 microM platelet-activating factor. Similar amounts of secreted prostaglandin E2 were present in media of macrophage cultures after 1 h exposure to the two stimuli. In the presence of 0.1 microM alpha 2M-methylamine, secreted prostaglandin E2 remained elevated, compared to the appropriate buffer control, for at least 24 h. The present results indicate that receptor recognition of alpha 2M 'fast' forms by macrophages results in the rapid stimulation of eicosanoid secretion and suggest that secretion of prostaglandin E2 and other eicosanoids may be involved in the ability of alpha 2 M 'fast' forms to regulate various macrophage functional responses.     

Lipopolysaccharide increases glucocorticoid receptor expression in murine macrophages. A possible mechanism for glucocorticoid-mediated suppression of endotoxicity.

In a previous study we demonstrated that IFN-gamma induced an increase in the number of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in murine macrophages. To examine further the environmental signals involved in regulation of macrophage GR availability, we asked whether another classical macrophage-activating factor, LPS, would induce an increase in GR number in the macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, and in primary macrophages from C3H mice. We report that treatment of RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal exudate macrophages from C3H/OuJ mice with protein-free, phenol water-extracted LPS (PW-LPS) induced an increase in the number of GR. A significant increase in GR number was observed as early as 4 h after PW-LPS treatment, was maximal at 12 h, and remained heightened through 48 h. Optimal induction of the GR by PW-LPS was observed when murine macrophages were treated with 10 ng/ml of PW-LPS. The LPS-induced increase in macrophage GR number could be inhibited by polymyxin B. Macrophages obtained from the LPS hyporesponsive C3H/HeJ strain did not respond to PW-LPS, but did respond to protein-rich, butanol-extracted LPS with a modest increase in GR number after treatment with 2 micrograms/ml. Moreover, taxol, an antineoplastic agent with LPS mimetic activity, also increased GR number in murine macrophages. These results suggest that LPS is not only an important macrophage-activating signal, but may also be important in sensitizing the cell for negative regulatory events such as feedback inhibition by glucocorticoids.     

Functional alterations of macrophages in autoimmune MRL-lpr/lpr mice

To assess the role of macrophages (MAC) in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus, we investigated functional aspects of peritoneal MAC obtained from autoimmune MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr (MRL-lpr) mice. MRL-lpr and control C3H/HeN MAC were obtained from untreated mice or mice injected i.p. with 1 ml of 10% sterile peptone 3 days before cell harvest. MRL-lpr mice had significantly more peritoneal cells (MAC and lymphocytes) than did control mice. In endotoxin-free conditions, MRL-lpr MAC were similar to C3H/HeN MAC in their baseline, and IFN-gamma and/or LPS enhanced cytolysis of 3T12 fibrosarcoma tumor cells. Compared with C3H/HeN MAC, MRL-lpr MAC had a significant increase in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity activity against sheep erythrocytes. This enhanced activity was not accompanied by a similar increase in adherence and/or phagocytosis of the same targets. Finally, in response to phorbol myristate acetate stimulation, both resident and peptone-induced MAC from MRL-lpr mice produced significantly more hydrogen peroxide than did those from control mice. These results indicate that MAC from MRL-lpr mice display features of selective "activation", and suggest that MAC or their products may play a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders seen in autoimmune diseases.     

Activation of C3H/HeJ macrophage tumoricidal activity and cytokine release by R-chemotype lipopolysaccharide preparations. Differential effects of IFN-gamma

We have investigated the relative immunostimulatory activities of S-chemotype LPS and R-chemotype LPS preparations on C3H/HeJ peritoneal macrophages in vitro. As assessed by either secretion of TNF-alpha or IL-1, some of the R-chemotype LPS manifest significant activity on these normally LPS-unresponsive cells. The expression of IL-1 activity by R-LPS-stimulated C3H/HeJ macrophages was unaffected by IFN-gamma; however, this cytokine significantly enhanced TNF-alpha production by the same cells. The R-chemotype LPS preparations alone were not able to activate C3H/HeJ macrophages to become tumoricidal but activity could readily be demonstrated in the presence of IFN-gamma. Of potential importance is the observation that the profile of relative activity of the various R-chemotype LPS preparations for macrophage activation does not parallel that previously obtained by us for the C3H/HeJ B-lymphocyte activation.     

Lack of responsiveness of C3H/HeJ macrophages to lipopolysaccharide: the cellular basis of LPS-stimulated metabolism.

The rate of glucose utilization has been used as a measure of LPS-induced activation of cultures of C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ spleen cells, peritoneal cells, and purified peritoneal adherent cells. Peritoneal cells utilized 40 to 60 times more glucose than did spleen cells and purified adherent monolayers were more active than mixed peritoneal cells, suggesting that only macrophage metabolism was being measured. The cell preparations for C3H/HeJ mice were not activated by Escherichia coli K235 LPS prepared by extensive phenol extraction, whereas C3H/HeN cells were activated by the LPS. Cells from both strains were activated by a commercially obtained E. coli 0111:B4 LPS and butanol-extracted K235 LPS. The addition of 10% C3H/HeN spleen cells to C3H/HeJ peritoneal cells resulted in a marked enhancement of glucose utilization. These findings suggest that LPS-induced enhancement of macrophage metabolism occurs both by direct action of LPS on macrophages as well as indirectly through activated lymphocytes.     

Pertussis toxin and H-7 distinguish mechanisms involved in eicosanoid release from lipopolysaccharide-primed macrophages. Eicosanoid release from lipopolysaccharide-primed macrophages

Release of eicosanoids is an important response of macrophages to inflammation and bacterial infection. At low concentrations, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (1-2 micrograms/ml) fails to stimulate eicosanoid release in resident peritoneal macrophages but primes the macrophages for a greatly enhanced release of eicosanoids on stimulation with the calcium ionophore A23187 (0.1 microM) or with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (50 nM), an activator of protein kinase C. Incubation of macrophages with Bordetella pertussis toxin, prior to priming with lipopolysaccharide, inhibited the release of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase products upon A23187 stimulation. Pertussis toxin treatment of macrophages had no effect on eicosanoid release when the stimulus was phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The presence of 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), an effective inhibitor of protein kinase C, during lipopolysaccharide priming and subsequent stimulation significantly inhibited eicosanoid release when phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was the stimulus, but did not affect eicosanoid release stimulated by A23187. Based on these results, at least two mechanisms, distinguished by apparent differences in sensitivity to pertussis-toxin-sensitive, guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins and protein kinase C, are involved in eicosanoid secretion by lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages in response to A23187 and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate.